The hearing of the mandamus case filed by Bacolod City Water District director Lawrence Villanueva before the Regional Trial Court Branch 49 against the mayor and his appointee, David Villanueva, was postponed yesterday and re-raffled to RTC Branch 42.

This was after Judge Manuel Cardinal Jr. of RTC Branch 49 inhibited himself from the case when his former stenographer, Nora Abaygar, entered her appearance as counsel of Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella.

Abaygar was also former administrator of Salvador Benedicto town, and former legal counsel of Baciwa director Marichi Ramos.

Lawrence Villanueva had filed a petition for mandamus and prohibition with prayer for issuance of temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against Puentevella and his appointee, David Villanueva, to prevent the latter from sitting on the Baciwa Board by January 1.

The Court issued a 72-hour TRO dated January 5 enjoining the Baciwa Board meeting and later issued an order dated January 9 extending the TRO directing David Villanueva to stop exercising the duties of Baciwa director for 17 days.

Lawrence Villanueva said the hearing yesterday was postponed and the case was re-raffled to RTC Branch 42 under Judge Fernando Elumba.

Roem Arbolado, legal counsel of Lawrence Villanueva, said they now have a limited period to present their evidences since Abaygar, the former stenographer of RTC Branch 49, entered her appearance as counsel of Puentevella, and also because the TRO is only until January 26 or 27.

Arbolado said they were ready to present their evidence yesterday had the hearing pushed through.

Ramos said this a tactical move employed by the camp of Puentevella to delay the case because the TRO is only good for about 20 days. This is the second time they delayed the hearing of the case, she said.

“I believe good will always triumph over evil, especially that yesterday the pope arrived in the country. I felt assured that, despite all the obstacles and anomalies allegedly happening in Baciwa, there will be an end to all this,” she said.

Lawrence Villanueva said “I continue to believe in our justice system. We hope and pray that there will be an early resolution of the case.”*CGS

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